CEDAR KEY IS RED TIDE FREE

In Southwest Florida over the past week, K. breviswas observed at background concentrations in two samples collected from Manatee County, very low concentrations in two samples collected from Charlotte County, background to medium concentrations in eight samples collected from Lee County, and background to low concentrations in three samples collected from Collier County.

Additional samples collected throughout Florida over the past week did not contain K. brevis.

Over the past week, fish kills were reported in Southwest Florida in Charlotte County (Shell Creek), Lee County (Bonita Beach) and Collier County (Barefoot Beach). Respiratory irritation was reported over the past week in Lee County on 5/17 at Newton Park. Forecasts by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides for Pinellas to northern Monroe counties predict northern movement of surface waters and minimal net movement of subsurface waters over the next three days.

This information, including maps and reports with additional details, is also available on the FWRI Red Tide website. The website also provides links to additional information related to the topic of Florida red tide including satellite imagery, experimental red tide forecasts, shellfish harvesting areas, the FWC Fish Kill Hotline, the Florida Poison Information Center (to report human health effects related to exposure to red tide), and other wildlife related hotlines.

To learn more about various organisms that have been known to cause algal blooms in Florida waters, see the FWRI Red Tide Flickr page. Archived status maps can also be found on Flickr.

The FWRI HAB group in conjunction with Mote Marine Laboratory now have a Facebook page. Please like our page and learn interesting facts concerning red tide and other harmful algal blooms in Florida.